A terrible accident happened on June 12, 2025. Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed soon after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane was flying to London Gatwick Airport with 242 people on board — 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Sadly, only one person survived.

Crash Details

The plane took off at 1:39 PM local time but lost contact with air traffic control within 30 seconds. People nearby heard explosions and saw thick smoke as the plane fell into a neighborhood. It hit a hostel building at B.J. Medical College in Meghani Nagar. The crash caused a lot of damage. The tail of the plane was stuck in the building, and the rest of the plane was scattered around the area.

Rescue and Recovery

Emergency teams, including firefighters, ambulances, and members of the Indian Army and disaster response teams, rushed to the crash site. However, the burning fuel, about 125,000 liters, made rescue work very hard, and few could be saved. DNA tests are being done to identify the victims, with about 1,000 tests expected. Families, even those living abroad, are helping with this. The government’s aviation ministry has started a full investigation to find out what caused the crash.

Victims and Survivor

Among those who died was Vijay Rupani, a former Chief Minister of Gujarat. At least 50 medical students living in the hostel were taken to the hospital, and 41 people were hurt. The only survivor is Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British man. He was sitting near an emergency exit and escaped with minor injuries. From his hospital bed, he described how the plane crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff. His brother, who was with him, did not survive.

International Response

Leaders from around the world expressed their sorrow. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the crash very sad and shocking. The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is sending a team to help investigate. Air India, now run by Tata Sons, promised to help fully and arranged extra flights from Delhi and Mumbai to support the victims’ families.

Ongoing Investigation

Early information shows the plane only reached 625 feet high before crashing. Investigators are looking into possible problems with the plane’s settings, like flap position and lift, and whether the engines lost power. The investigation is still ongoing as officials work hard to understand what went wrong.

As rescue work continues and the investigation moves forward, people around the world are mourning and standing with the victims and their families.

Published: 13th June 2025

For more such articles, please follow us on Twitter, Linkedin & Instagram

Also Read:

Top-Earning Players at 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
Global Markets 2025: Key Drivers of Growth and Volatility
The World’s Highest-Paid Golfers of 2025